Manuscript with scenes of combat from the Thai version of the epic of Rama
Rama and Ravana, and many other pairs of warriors from the Rama epic, struggle on page after page of this manuscript. No other narratives are shown, and there is no text. Only facial features, types of headdress, and skin color allow viewers to identify characters.
In Thailand both Rama and Ravana traditionally have green skin. Ravana has multiple demonic faces stacked in his crown. Both warriors wield sticklike weapons which, on the stage, can represent bows, arrows, or fighting staffs.
Almost always each pair of fighters is shown on three successive double pages at various moments of their clashes. It is as if we see three freezeframes from a movie.
The function of this manuscript is not at all clear. It must have had something to do with the Thai classical dance-drama, as its costumes and positions are virtually identical to those seen on stage.
(Exhibition Label from The Rama Epic: Hero, Heroine, Ally, Foe)
